A DECORATED winter wonderland garden and Santa’s grotto at the Falcon pub in Prudhoe has been vandalised after its opening weekend.

Pub manager Peter Thompson and staff had to put in extra work on Monday, November 26 and Tuesday, November 30 to fix decorations damaged from Storm Arwen.

But on Saturday night, December 4, after staff carefully packed the garden’s Christmas decorations away, the winter wonderland was vandalised.

Owners of The Falcon said: “Lights and extensions have been ripped apart, plugs smashed and damaged, trees tipped over and pulled out, and inflatables popped," despite covering everything with tarpaulin sheets.

The Falcon’s first Breakfast with Santa on Saturday had been thoroughly enjoyed, both by local residents and staff who dressed as elves for the event.

The owners added: “We are completely saddened that someone has done this not only to us but to the children of Prudhoe, who we so wanted to give a magical experience to after the past years they have had.”

Comments poured in from the Prudhoe community on Facebook, with people offering messages of support.

A GoFund Me page has been set up by Gary Dent, which has so far raised £220 out of a £1,000 goal to recover costs for all damage caused and for the staff’s time and effort to create their winter wonderland event.

Coun. Gordon Stewart, NCC deputy cabinet member, said: “This has come as devastating news for so many people. I feel sorry for the hard working staff at this popular local pub. I would encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact the police or anonymously to Crime Stoppers.”

A statement from the pub added: “The money put in by the owners and the hours of hard work put in by the staff to create something so wonderful was all ruined in one night.”

The pub is undeterred by this act of reckless violence, but said “staff must now spend time trying to salvage and fix what we can of our garden.”

Breakfasts with Santa and Christmas teas will still be going ahead as planned and the garden will be repaired, with the owners stating: “We won’t let anyone miss out this year.”

The decorations include a six-foot elf with flashing lights, a six-foot reindeer family, a 12-foot train with flashing lights and an eight-foot snowman.